JP2009050607A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems in which harder bristle tips give damage to the gum or in which tapered bristle tips divert part of bristles from a periodontal pocket, separating them to both sides and therefore bending easily, although the tapered bristles are possibly made thicker in the maximum outer diameter in order to obtain a proper bristle hardness. <P>SOLUTION: In a toothbrush, plastic filaments with tapered tips are bundled to make bristle tufts, which are implanted on an implanting surface of the head and arranged conically along the longitudinal direction of the filaments. In this toothbrush, each bristle tuft is shaped such that the diameter of the tuft at 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm and 4.0 mm from the tip end are 30-60%, 60-90%, 70-100%, and 90-100% of the base of the tuft, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toothbrush in which the bristles of a toothbrush are arranged in a conical shape along the longitudinal direction of a filament, and the tip of the bristles reaches a sufficient distance between the interproximal part or the boundary between the teeth and the gums, and soft touch that does not damage the gums In addition, the present invention relates to a toothbrush that is excellent in the durability of bending of a hair tip.

Conventionally, the material for brushes is generally made of a synthetic resin material due to its hygiene and processability. However, a toothbrush with a brush made of nylon fiber is basically easy to absorb moisture, and although there is a soft feeling after absorbing moisture, the elasticity of the hair is low and the waist is weak, so the power to scrape plaque is insufficient, Moreover, there existed a fault that durability was low. As a material to replace such nylon, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-60-45606, polybutylene terephthalate is used as a hair material. However, when I brushed my teeth, I felt pain in my gums.
In addition, toothbrushes are known in which the bristles are processed into a taper shape so that the bristles enter the recesses between the teeth and the teeth, or between the teeth and the gums. Because of its short length, the cleaning ability and softness were not improved, and there was almost no difference in effect from a brush having a round (straight) tip.
However, a brush in which a brush having a taper portion long and sharpened by chemical treatment of a synthetic resin filament is also known, but it has been invented for cosmetics and face washing (Akira Akai). Nos. 57-12934 and 57-65632).
JP-A-60-45606. Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-12934. Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-65632.

  These brushes were inventions that improved the feel, durability, hygiene, etc. by replacing the brushes of brushes that had been used exclusively with natural animal hair with tapered brushes with sharpened tips. . However, since these taper brushes are invented for cosmetics and face washing, even if they are implanted as they are for toothbrushes, they are too soft, and the cleaning effect is remarkably reduced as compared with toothbrushes of ordinary non-taper brushes. Here, in order to obtain an appropriate hardness of the brush, it is conceivable to increase the maximum outer diameter portion of the tapered brush, but the hair tip becomes hard and damages the gums, or the hair tip is aligned at the tip. For this reason, the hair tip that does not enter the periodontal pocket escapes to both sides, which causes a problem that it is easy to bend.

  The present invention is a toothbrush obtained by bundling synthetic resin filaments with tapered bristles into bristles and flocking the bristles on a flocked surface of a head portion, and the bristles along the longitudinal direction of the filaments In the toothbrush arranged in a conical shape, the diameter of the hair bundle at each of 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.0 mm from the tip of the hair bundle is 30 with respect to the diameter of the base of the hair bundle. The gist is that the hair bundle shapes specified by -60%, 60-90%, 70-100%, 90-100% are respectively defined.

  The present invention is a toothbrush obtained by bundling synthetic resin filaments with bristles tapered to form a bristles, and flocking the bristles onto the flocked surface of the head portion, and the bristles are made of synthetic resin A toothbrush in which the filaments are bundled on the flocking surface of the head portion, and the bristles are arranged conically along the longitudinal direction of the filaments, and the tips of the bristles To 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, 4.0 mm, the diameter of the hair bundle is 30 to 60%, 60 to 90%, 70 to 100% with respect to the diameter of the base of the hair bundle, 90-100%, each of which defines the shape of each specified hair bundle, so that the tapered conical hair bundle can be easily inserted into the border regardless of the interdental area or the size of the teeth and gums. And eliminate leftovers So the cleaning ability is high, and the tip of the filament is thin and tapered, so the hair ends of the hair bundle will not be damaged by the gums, and the shape of the hair bundle is conical. When the bristles are pressed against the surface of the teeth or between the teeth, the hair bundle is less likely to spread, so that durability against bending is improved. As a result, by arranging the tapered filament in a conical shape along the longitudinal direction, the ability to clean the interdental part and the boundary between the teeth and gums is high, and the soft feeling is excellent and sufficient for use. A toothbrush having excellent durability at the end of the bristles can be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example applied to a toothbrush according to the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a hair bundle of a toothbrush, and this hair bundle 1 is inserted into a hair bundle insertion hole 2a formed in a head portion 2b integrated with the handle 2, and a hair bundle fixing shaft 3 for fixing the hair bundle 1 is fixed. Is inserted into and fixed to the bristle bundle insertion hole 2a integral with the handle 2 to constitute a toothbrush. The hair bundle 1 uses a filament 4 whose tip is tapered to converge in a longitudinal direction and is formed in a conical shape having a mountain shape, and the rear end portion 7 is formed by a method such as heat welding or adhesive. Formed.

  Synthetic resin materials used for the filament 4 include polyamide (6,6-nylon, 6-nylon, 12-nylon, 6,10-nylon, 6,12-nylon, etc.) and polyester (polyethylene terephthalate). , Polybutylene terephthalate, etc.), acrylic (modacryl, etc.), polyacrylonitrile, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, etc. can be used. It can be any kind.

  Although the diameter D of the filament 4 used for this bristle bundle 1 changes with manufacturing uses or a magnitude | size (diameter and length), the diameter D of the filament 4 in the bristle bundle 1 of the toothbrush concerning this invention is 0.15 mm- It is preferable to use a 0.25 mm one. The filament diameter D mentioned here refers to the diameter of the portion that is not tapered.

  In order to make the filament 4 made of the synthetic resin into a tapered filament 4 from the tip to the back, a method using a treatment liquid is preferable. As a specific example, metacresol and calcium chloride-methanol solution with respect to polyamide are used. And a combination of sodium hydroxide and the like with respect to the polyester and polyester. However, it is not necessarily limited to this method. For example, other methods such as applying a heat stretch to a filament made of a synthetic resin and stretching it into a taper shape, or mechanically tapering such as a grinder polishing are adopted. May be.

A toothbrush obtained by bundling synthetic resin filaments 4 with tapered bristles into bristles 1 and flocking the bristles 1 on the flocked surface of the head portion 2b. The diameter A of the bristle bundle 1 at each part of 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.0 mm from the tip 6 of the bristle bundle 1 is the diameter B of the base. The hair which is specified by 30 to 60%, 60 to 90%, 70 to 100% and 90 to 100% with respect to the hair bundle 1 and is configured by a twill line-shaped outer shape which is gradually reduced in diameter toward the tip. Bundle 1 is used. The purpose is that the tapered conical hair bundle 1 is easy to insert at the boundary regardless of the interdental part or the size of the teeth and gums, and it eliminates tartar and leftover residue and has a high cleaning ability. In addition, since the tip of the filament 4 is thinly tapered, the tip of the hair bundle 1 is prevented from being damaged by the gums. Moreover, since the shape of the hair bundle 1 is conical, the hair bundle 1 is difficult to spread when the hair tips are pressed against the tooth surface or interdental portion, thereby improving durability against bending. is there. Further, if the diameter A at each portion of the conical hair bundle 1 of the hair bundle 1 is less than the above-mentioned size, the hair bundle 1 becomes too soft and bends when touching the tooth surface or periodontal pocket. This is because the durability of the tip of the tapered portion becomes weak depending on the frequency of use, and when the diameter D of each portion of the conical hair bundle 1 of the hair bundle 1 exceeds the above dimensions, the feeling of use is hard. This is because it becomes difficult to damage the gums or enter the periodontal pocket.
The distance C from the top 6 of the filament 4 located at the center of the hair bundle 1 to the filament top 6 located at the edge 5 is preferably 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm. If the distance from the top 6 of the filament located at the center of the hair bundle 1 to the top 6 of the filament 4 located at the edge 5 is less than 2.0 mm, the angle of the conical hair bundle 1 becomes too obtuse. This is because it becomes difficult to enter the periodontal pocket, or the gums are damaged when hitting the gums. When the distance from the top 6 of the filament 4 located at the center of the hair bundle 1 to the top 6 of the filament 4 located at the edge 5 exceeds 4.0 mm, the angle of the conical hair bundle 1 becomes an acute angle. This is because the end of the hair bundle 1 is easily bent and the durability becomes weak depending on the frequency of use.
The diameter D of the base of the filament 4 is preferably about 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm. This is because if the diameter D of the base portion of the filament 4 is less than 0.15 mm, the durability deteriorates depending on the frequency of use, is too soft and breaks from the base portion, and the cleaning ability deteriorates. Further, if the diameter D of the base of the filament 4 exceeds 0.25 mm, the touch during use becomes hard, and the gums are damaged when hitting the gums.
The filament 4 may be used in any number as long as it is within the range of the diameter D of the filament, although it depends on the application and the size of the brush tip. Moreover, as long as the diameter D of the filament is within the above range, cross-sectional irregularities (cross shape, star shape, etc.) and wavy crimps may be combined.

<Practical example>
Hereinafter, practical examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2 (a), the filament 4 whose tip is tapered is cut into a predetermined length, and the filament 4 made of synthetic resin is conically arranged along the longitudinal direction using a predetermined jig. A bundle 1 is formed, and the diameter A of the hair bundle at each of 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.0 mm from the tip of the hair bundle 1 is changed to the diameter B of the hair bundle 1 of the base 5. On the other hand, 30 to 60%, 60 to 90%, 70 to 100%, and 90 to 100% were formed by binding the rear end portion 7 of the hair bundle 1 arranged so as to be specified. Is.

As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the hair bundle 1 is put into the hair bundle insertion hole 2a of the head portion 2b integral with the handle 2 and temporarily fixed.
As shown in FIG. 2 (d), the hair bundle 1 is inserted into the hair bundle insertion hole 2a integral with the handle 2 and the hair bundle is fixed from the rear end of the hair bundle insertion hole 2a integral with the handle 2. The shaft 3 was press-fitted and fixed to form a toothbrush.
The hair bundle 1 uses a hair bundle 1 having a shape in which filaments 4 whose ends are tapered are arranged in a conical shape along the longitudinal direction, but other conditions (hair bundles in each conical portion of the hair bundle 1 are used. 1 diameter A, filament 4 diameter (other than taper) D, conical length (the distance from the top 6 of the hair bundle 1 located at the center to the top of the hair bundle 1 located at the edge 5) C is shown in Table 1, and Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 13 to 35 are shown in Table 2.

  The toothbrush shown in FIG. 1 was formed using the bristle bundles of Examples 1 to 12 and Comparative Examples 13 to 35, and a brushing test was performed.

Brushing test (monitor survey)
Method: An arbitrarily extracted monitor was used to actually use a toothbrush, and a monitor survey on usability was conducted. The survey results are shown in Table 3.

1 is a schematic side view of a toothbrush according to the present invention. (a) The side view of the hair | bristle bundle which arrange | positioned the filament which taper-processed at the hair tip to the cone shape to the longitudinal direction, and heat-welded the rear-end part. FIG. 2B is a right side view of FIG. (c) The side view which temporarily fixed the brush part to the hair | bristle bundle insertion hole integral with a handle | steering-wheel. (d) The side view which fixed the hair | bristle bundle temporarily fixed to the hair | bristle bundle insertion hole integral with a handle with the hair | bristle bundle fixing shaft. It is an enlarged view of the filament which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Hair bundle 2 Handle 3 Hair bundle fixing shaft 4 Enlarged view of filament

Claims (3)

A toothbrush obtained by bundling synthetic resin filaments with tapered bristles into bristles and flocking the bristles on the flocked surface of the head portion, the bristles being conical along the length of the filaments In the arranged toothbrush, the diameter of the hair bundle at each of 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 4.0 mm from the tip of the hair bundle is 30 to 60% of the diameter of the base of the hair bundle, 60 to 90%, 70 to 100%, and 90 to 100%, respectively, constituting the shape of the hair bundle specified. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the top of the filament located at the center of the bristle bundle to the top of the filament located at the edge is 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm. The toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a diameter of a base portion of the filament of the bristle bundle is 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

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